7-day Itinerary - Raiatea

Day 1 — Arrive + market orientation (Uturoa)

• Check in, then do a gentle “welcome loop” in Uturoa: stroll the town and visit the covered market for fruit, snacks, and locally made crafts/souvenirs.​

• Keep dinner easy near your lodging so tomorrow starts early for culture.

Day 2 — Taputapuātea UNESCO immersion (south day trip)

• Visit Marae Taputapuātea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important cultural places in the Polynesian world.​

• Go guided if possible; Tahiti Tourisme specifically recommends guided tours to fully understand the site.​

Day 3 — Faaroa River paddle (half day) + relaxed afternoon

• Paddle the Faaroa River by kayak/canoe/SUP; Tahiti Tourisme notes it’s the only navigable river in French Polynesia and a must-do.​

• Afternoon: optional pearl farm or vanilla stop (both are commonly paired with island tours on Raiatea).​

Day 4 — Move south + “slow lagoon” reset

• Switch accommodations to your south/southwest base for a calmer second half.​

• Spend the afternoon doing nothing on purpose: lagoon swim, nap, light snorkeling, early night.

Day 5 — Mount Temehani hike (tiare apetahi day)

• Take a guided hike on Mount Temehani to look for the endemic tiare apetahi flower, which Tahiti Tourisme highlights as unique to Raiatea.​

• Bring reef-safe sunscreen, rain layer, and closed-toe shoes; weather can change quickly in the interior.​

Day 6 — Waterfalls + interior viewpoints

• Visit “the three waterfalls,” which Tahiti Tourisme calls one of the island’s natural wonders with pools for swimming.​

• Add a short scenic interior drive rather than another big hike so you’re fresh for your final day.​

Day 7 — Choose your finale (lagoon day or full island loop)

Pick one based on energy and weather:

• Option A: Diving day (Raiatea is promoted for diving and water activities).​

• Option B: Full island tour that bundles coastline viewpoints + pearl farm + vanilla plantation + Taputapuātea (Tahiti Tourisme describes this as a great “see everything” day).​

Top 10 activities

• Taputapuātea UNESCO guided visit.​

• Faaroa River paddle (kayak/canoe/SUP).​

• Mount Temehani hike for tiare apetahi.​

• Swim at the “three waterfalls.”​

• Diving (Raiatea/lagoon and reef sites).​

• Lagoon/motu excursion.​

• Pearl farm visit (and shop direct).​

• Vanilla plantation visit (tasting + buying).​

• Uturoa market morning (crafts + local food).​

• Island loop tour by car/guide for viewpoints and history.​

Top 10 attractions

• Marae Taputapuātea (UNESCO World Heritage Site).​

• Faaroa River.​

• Mount Temehani.​

• Tiare apetahi (endemic flower).​

• The “three waterfalls.”​

• Uturoa (main town/port).​

• Uturoa covered market (crafts + produce).​

• Pearl farms (Raiatea is a key pearl-production island).​

• Vanilla plantation stops.​

• Scenic coastline viewpoints on the island loop.​

Top 10 chef-choice restaurants (mixed cuisine)

Tahiti Tourisme notes Raiatea has restaurants serving local and international dishes, including Polynesian fish preparations like poisson cru and waterside dining.​
Because “chef’s choice” is subjective, the list below is built from official tourism listings and official venue websites available in sources here (not review-platform rankings).​

• Atipika’a (Apatoa Hotel’s restaurant; eclectic/bistronomic with local accents). 

• https://apatoa.fr/en

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• Raiatea Lodge Restaurant (hotel restaurant). 

• https://raiatea-lodge-hotel.com/en/home/

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• Le Napoli (listed by Tahiti Tourisme as an eating-out option).​

• Brasserie Maraamu (listed by Tahiti Tourisme as an eating-out option).​

• Chez Stef (listed by Tahiti Tourisme as an eating-out option).​

• La Voile D’Or (listed by Tahiti Tourisme as an eating-out option).​

• Plus: use Tahiti Tourisme “Eating out in Raiatea” as your master list to confirm hours/days and discover more venues. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/raiatea/eating-out-in-raiatea/

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If you want exactly 10 named venues with direct official links for each, say whether “official” may include a venue’s verified Facebook page when no standalone website exists.

Top 10 shopping (Raiatea)

Tahiti Tourisme’s general shopping guidance for the Islands of Tahiti highlights core buys like pearls/jewelry, pareos, hats/baskets, and monoi—these are the most reliable categories to plan for on Raiatea.​
Raiatea-specific shopping is best centered in Uturoa (covered market + nearby shops) and by buying directly from pearl farms and vanilla producers during tours.​

• Uturoa covered market (crafts/souvenirs + food).​

• Pearls/jewelry (pearl farm shop).​

• Vanilla products (plantation shop).​

• Pareos.​

• Hats and baskets.​

• Monoi products.​

• Locally carved wood items (market finds).​

• Handmade jewelry (market finds).​

• Local snacks/jams (market/shops).​

• Small artisan gifts from guided-tour stops.​

Official links (starter set)

You asked for “top 40 official sites only”; this turn can provide a starter set of verified official anchors from tourism boards and official venues, and then expand to 40 once you confirm what counts as “official” (websites only vs websites + verified social pages).​

Tahiti Tourisme: Raiatea overview. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/raiatea/

Tahiti Tourisme: What to do in Raiatea. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/raiatea/what-to-do-in-raiatea/

Tahiti Tourisme: Activities in Raiatea. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/raiatea/activities-in-raiatea/

Tahiti Tourisme: Eating out in Raiatea. 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/raiatea/eating-out-in-raiatea/

Air Tahiti (getting there; Raiatea flights info). 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/raiatea

Apatoa Hotel (hotel/restaurant/spa). 

• https://apatoa.fr/en

Raiatea Lodge Hotel (hotel/restaurant). 

• https://raiatea-lodge-hotel.com/en/home/

Tahiti Tourisme: Shopping (islands-wide guidance). 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/activities/shopping/